Mostly event announcements, news, and bicycle related activist opinions... Download Critical Mass flyers and posters, or upload your own Email vancouvercm~AT~gmail~DOT~com for a posting password Yes, we ride the last Friday of every month!

26.4.07

April Critical Mass

Friday April 27 of course

It's that time of the month. There is going to be a lot of people in the streets even with the april rains. We are starting to reach that criticality, no longer an invisible minority, where will our place be on the road?

The April ride is upon us. Last month's March ride had hundreds of participants/leaders. Never before has our collective need for bicycle transportation leadership been more obvious to the mainstream. The ride is an end in itself - and fun. Also, it is a place to network/imagine/build a better future.

June.

It's time to start thinking about the June Bike Massive too! We always have extra special efforts to promote the last Friday of the month June Critical Mass (29th). Last year there were over 1700 riders! It begs the question of course, of what to do when Mass is Massive and achieved. The obvious answer - is to ride. Critical Mass is not a single or dogmatic political ideology, so there are a lot of reasons/responses to it. However, with the sheer scale of things as they were last June, there is an emerging consensus that we need to organise for scale if we expect more people to participate and have fun. It is less of a ride and more of a walk/standstill when there are so many people that the road is too narrow. It is amazing in this stall to see how many more people can fit together and use a road when there aren't giant metal boxes taking up all the space. But, though 'traffic delays' of that sort are inevitable, a lot of people would like to minimise them.

So talk of planning the route has been coming up again and again. Actually since the first extra specially promoted June 2003 Massive Mass, this idea was talked about. Generally the consensus has been to stick to wide roads with enough lanes [last year it was 3 lanes in our direction] needed to move that many people. In none of the years has the route actually stuck to the wide roads. Always we've gone on one lane streets. Last year we even split into 2 to cross the Lions Gate Bridge/go to the beach.

So, what are we going to do this year? We could easily get almost 3000 riders if the weather cooperates and we all work to bring the friends we know. Last year we had some meetings of people interested in promoting and organising for the ride. This year those should happen and I will post dates ASAP here on my blog when I hear about them. There is likely to be a lot of discussion of this on the velolove discussion list, which is open to all Critical Mass riders/interested parties to join. This is not the official government of Critical Mass of course, as this is a diverse event requiring organisation by all who attend [by corking, by riding and talking to others...] So there will be other groups organising for June besides the listserv. Please sign up though if you are interested!

On the issue of planning a route: In San Francisco the idea of the ride is Xerocracy where people interested photocopy a route map for the ride, distribute it, and the best plan wins by being taken by those who show up. Also the ride might change or be a hybrid, as one would expect. There are liable to be problems if the route about a suggested fun plan and instead becomes an enforced limiting parade route. Because, of course, BIKES ARE TRAFFIC, and that is one of the agreed upon points of unity that is Critical Mass - there should be more bikes and more space for them. We are not riding to be a special event parade only, because [as much as we love the Pride Parade and that is a good Vancouver event to aspire to] we are about the use of the very space we ride on - our public streets - and we want there to be a change there everyday. Bikes should not be marginal - as they are now - subject to the dangerous whims of whomever happens to be driving. Roads need to be shared, and sadly, cars just aren't safe to share space with soft sexy cycling bodies.

In Vancouver I don't know of any ride where the route has been pre-planned before the event. The closest I have seen is rides where we agree on a destination [such as the ANZA club for a Worklessparty] of a point to pass by [a bridge or maybe a squat]. On the June rides some riders have aspired to being at the front and guiding the mass towards larger roads and away from single lanes. There were even some with radios doing that last year. The results I think all can agree were mixed success [in planning, the rides were great fun success]. It seems people are quite keen on that spontaneity you get from having the route be determined by who happens to be at the front. I do hear complaints when people at the front get indecisive and we stop not deciding which way to go - and the riders at the back are confused. In the June ride the Massiveness changes things. I was trying to get to the front of the ride just so I could see it all pass me by last year - but I was unable - it was just too big a ride. That was inspiring, but also would have been annoying if I had wanted to contribute to deciding the route [luckily I didn't want to].

So, some of the ideas I have talked about with other riders for this year are:

Having 'float' decorated/music group bicycle lead the route. Something like the Santa sled/pumpkin chariot we have used in other hears. Or something like the pedalplaypedalsound chariot we had in 2004. Personally I would like to have 3 of these: at the back front and middle of the ride to serve as focal points and to lead the route on a planned/flexible route. Maybe we could even split the mass into 3 and then come back together! I would favour a map/route that was made by anyone who was interested contributing beforehand. These floats would have to be made. I personally like making things like that, and could give people tips on steering design. However, I could only possibly make one, and need help with even that. Maybe other people would be keen? Check out the Human Powered Vehicle Contest for some ideas.

Approaching the city and working with them somehow. We are already working with the city and using the city streets. Also we do not want to have a parade that is not traffic. So the question is how would we work with the city and what would we ask of them? I am all in favour of cooperation, but we also have to realise that what we've got is a system by and for car use - so we do have to have some conflict to change that. Also, who would speak to the city and how - obviously some negotiation is in order. It seems the city might still be in the dark ages of requiring some kind of authoritarian structure over the Mass in order to negotiate - liability ideas... - and that is not critical mass. We choose to cooperate but not to have bosses. Anyways, this city idea is not my proposal, so I should let people who are in favour of it speak for themselves and say no more except - join the velolove email list to join the conversation!

Asking the police that show up to show up on bicycles instead of cars/motorbikes to be more cooperative with us. This has been a position I have held for years for all rides. Pretty much the only time the police are highly visible is the June ride, so it makes to say this for then.

Some people were talking about us promoting helmet use in order to negotiate and get support from other groups for Critical Mass. Personally, I do promote Helmet use, it is a good idea. But I object to criminalising biking by saying that we must wear helmet's to protect ourselves from cars. And having the police apply this arbitrarily - mostly to the disadvantaged such as homeless cyclists. Not wearing a helmet is stupid, I definitely agree. But, the legal application of that is wrong while we have subsidised highway expansion!

Splitting the Mass into smaller masses, by... well there are lots of ideas. Different meeting places or destinations... Riding in small groups then converging into one giant mass. It can be a very beautiful vision but would require serious co-ordination which might not work. Some people advocate this as a way to close down the entire car monopoly zone of the city for a while - a reclaim the streets spontaneous car free day party! Some advocate this idea as a way of being nicer to motorists to be less intrusive in their driving lives. I don't know what would happen.

This issue reminds me of my own experience at the WTO and FTAA "protests." At the WTO there were all these little affinity groups that would occupy different intersections. It felt very organised because each small grouping had some kind of structure and organisation so that people could communicate. And the idea of all these groups working together was inspiring. Whereas, at the FTAA in Quebec city, all the little groups joined into one big marching mass. And in my expereince we got lost in the mass and groups didn't stay organised so it was like just a general anonymous mass instead of the feeling of togetherness (that I like at CM). So this example isn't exactly like CM, we aren't really such a protest and we want to avoid conflict... But that is the idea that makes me like the splitting up plan. But also, at the WTO the plan was successful because we had a clear objective - blockading the conference centre. Our objective is more subtle, to temporarily occupy space and includes all sorts of other things, like fun.

So, those are some ideas, not all mine, and you surely have more. So, lets talk about it this Friday and also over the next two months. And, somebody please call an open meeting for interested parties to talk about this over the next few weeks and then tell me or just post it up here!

23.4.07

Ambitious Musicians Touring Across Canada by Bicycle

in Vancouver at Cafe Deux Soleils on May 20th with Sarah Noni Metzner.

Ottawa, ON -- April 17, 2007-- Possessed by desire to make music touring ecologically friendly and healthier, songwriters Johnny Eden and Derek Olive are taking four months to tour across Canada by bicycle, performing over 60 shows en route, on what they are calling Eden & Olive's MUSICYCLE Tour 2007.

The MUSICYCLE tour promotes positive emissions, both musically and environmentally, and aims to highlight the possibilities for merging music touring with sustainable transportation and to encourage healthy living. Fully self-supported, with guitars strapped safely to bike trailers, Derek and Johnny begin the MUSICYCLE tour in Powell River, BC on May 11th and finish in Petite Riviere, NS on September 8th. Along the way they will perform in small towns and major population centers such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Halifax, Oshawa, Victoria, and Regina.

The unlikely pair of songwriters, traveling by one of the oldest modes of transportation, met in the likeliest of ways in a most modern way – over the internet. Serendipitously, back in October 2006, Johnny and Derek had separately begun to plan cross-Canada music/cycling tours. Johnny used a Canadian folk music forum to post his intention of going on his musical bicycle tour, and, after Derek read the posting, the two decided to team up.

Musically, Derek and Johnny are near opposites. Derek has a Masters in Music composition. Johnny is a self-taught singer/guitarist. Bringing their two musical worlds together on stage in a song circle setting, they will treat listeners to both Johnny's high-intensity delivery and narrative, theatrical-style songs and to Derek's perceptive lyrics and searing guitar style. Even their voices are markedly different – Derek drawing comparisons to the likes of clear, bold-voiced singers like Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies, and Johnny to textured singers like Tom Waits and Marvin Gaye. While Derek has a recognizable style, Johnny is nothing short of erratic. And so nothing short of a great musical experience will await audiences, with something for all music lovers as these two weave their diverse musical tales together, occasionally accompanied by some very talented friends.

This odd couple also boasts opposing skills: Johnny has never gone on a cycling trip, but has toured across Canada by the Greyhound as a professional musician for three years, playing several festivals andhundreds of venues. Derek, on the other hand, has only played a handful of festivals and venues in Canada, but has toured by bicycle through over sixteen countries around the world. While Johnny possesses the skills tobook such a goliath of a tour, Derek possesses the know-how about getting from town to town by bicycle. While Johnny works on designing posters, Derek attracts sponsors to the tour.

The pair has received significant support both from the cycling and music communities. Eclipse Bicycles supplied the bicycles and BOB offered up two Yak bike trailers for the pair to carry their instruments and gear on. VIA Rail supplied Derek with a train ticket to Vancouver so that he could avoid the environmental destruction that flying to the tour's origin would cause. Richard Paxton, a burgeoning guitar maker, built Derek a custom guitar for the tour, luthier Doug Thompson did some inexpensive work on Johnny'sbeloved psychedelic painted guitar, and John Pearse Strings supplied their assurance that their tone would always be fresh.

All that's left now is for the two to get on their bikes, start pedaling, keep playing, and pray that the roads are smooth, the days are dry, and the tunes leave faces smiling. And while these two ambitious musicians barelyknow each other now, they are not worried – they have six-thousand five-hundred kilometers to pick each other's guitars and brains.

Cara Fisher and Martin Prestage from Lifecycle present a fun filled eveningfor all featuring a series of short bike films for your amusement andentertainment. 7:00-8:30pm family hour flicks, after dark films 8:30-10pm.Never before screened films from all over North America!!

Accomdation - Nearby and very affordable accomodation for Vancouver bikersis available at Up the Creek Backpackers B & B www.upthecreek.ca

57 unnecessary (but fun) reasons to go out

...biking in the rain?...

* Tuesday April 17th: perhaps our strangest variety show, "57 Varieties",celebrates a start to its 4th unplugged year by re-launching on a new date, thethird Tuesday evening of every month. Still at Spartacus Books, (319 W.Hastings at Cambie). Will there be a bevy of special guests? Will Rowan bakeanother birthday cake? You have to come out to know for sure.

* Wednesday April 18th: 8 pm the 3rd Wednesday of every month is ground zerofor a nostalgia bomb -- the '80s at 8 at the Cottage Bistro (4468 Main at29th). Backtracking through the mire of the decade, we revisit 1988 in DocBrown's time machine.

** Also that night, Dianna David will be accompanying in her unique style(which is to say, mime, freestyle dance, contact juggling) the ContemporaryLovers Trio at the Railway Club (579 Dunsmuir at Seymour), 9 pm, $7. She's abusy woman with a load of shows this month, so if you're intrigued, seek herout for more.

* Saturday April 21st: the Guelph House is throwing a concert in honour oftheir eviction; blocks away, at the Rhizome Cafe (317 E. Broadway), The Torch-- an evening of cultural resistance to the 2010 Olympics -- will be underwayfrom 6:30 to 11:30 pm.

* Sunday, April 22nd, 2-3:30: Vancouver New Music presents the first of thisyear's Soundwalks, a series of curated "active listening" urban hikes. Today'swill cover Stanley Park, meeting at the tennis courts by Beach Ave and ParkLane. Mandatory RSVP at 604-633-0861!

* Sunday, April 29th, 2-3:30: Soundwalk again, this time through MountPleasant. Gathers, again, at the tennis courts, this time near Prince Edwardand 8th.

** Later that night, the daytime people finally get a taste of Accordion Noir,the late-night all-accordion radio show / podcast they've all been hearing somuch about. As part of the annual CO-OP membership drive, we'll be giving youtwo hours of guest programming from 7 through 9 pm, holding to the theme ofsqueezebox tunes in Latin American styles -- from cumbia and conjunto to tango,hopefully with some special guests. 102.7 fm! (The show still runs regularlyweekly from 2-3 am Tuesday nights / Friday mornings 8)

* Thursday May 3rd: Ill-Esha and her krew will be laying the beats down atLibrary Square as part of NewMusicWest! The library: not just a source ofcheap books and DVDs any longer!

* Friday May 4th: The ALF House will be playing host to a very specialSpartacus Books fundraiser. With a what and a where like that, moreinformation would simply be superfluous.

You've probably noticed that this is the first posting in years not to comefrom the butchershop e-mail address, which has finally given up the ghost.That may be the first step in spurring me to set this list up as an automatedprocess from which members can sign up and unsubscribe automatically... in themeantime, you get to write in to me directly to make those adjustments. We bida fond farewell also to the Perpetual Motion Roadshow, exhausting the last ofits volunteers after some wild years on the highways and sofas of this greatcontinent. Thanks to everyone who performed and listened at their local tourstops!

Earth Day

Join the global party for the planet by taking part in this year’s Earth Day Vancouver Celebration. This free family-oriented event will have tons of fun eco-friendly activities for kids and adults and you’ll be able to help restore Jericho Beach Park at the same time! We expect record crowds to converge on Jericho Park for a day of celebration, restoration, and hands-on participation. Come be part of it all!

There is a set price at this restaurant, we're rounding it off to include tax and tip and charging members and non-members $12 each--what a deal for all-you-can-eat!To register, email: dineout@$@earthsave*ca:1) send a separate email for each dineout you wish to register for2) include the name of the dineout in the header of the email3) include your full name and phone number4) include the full names and phone numbers of any guests you are registering

Sat 21 April: The WorkLess Party PARTY !

Below are the specs for an up-coming "Earth Day" evening gig, If you'd like to volunteer, get in touch with: Andrea orangeandorange@$@gmail*com

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The WorkLess Party PARTY! Twice a year we throw the biggest craziest party in Vancouver: Given our reputation for big talent, booty shakin and massive debauchery, we have only one option: Throw a party bigger and crazier than ever before. Costumes, paint, booty, and big opportunities for suprise guests to take the stage with mind blowing costumes and very hot body painting/performances.

There is $800 in prizes for the body painting/performance competition. If you are an artist and/or performer there is still time to register. Competition to be judged by a super fab and unbiased panel of professionals. For more info on the competition please visit http://www.worklessparty.org/party/party.htm

There will also be a Kissing Booth hosted by the hotties from the Brakes and a Spanking Booth hosted by the Church of Pointless Consumerism.